Apparatus for regulating window patch length on envelope and bag machinery

ABSTRACT

WINDOW PATH CUTTING APPARATUS INCLUDES A PAIR OF WEB PULL ROLLS AND VACUUM ROLL. THE VACUUM ROLLS HAS A SERIES OF SUCTION PORTS ALONG THE PERIPHERY AND A PATCH CUTTING KNIFE BLADE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM. THE PATCH CUTTING KNIFE BLADE ON THE VACUUM ROLL SEVERS WINDOW PATCHES FROM A WEB WHEN IT MOVES INTO CUTTING RELATION WITH A FIXED PATCH CUTTING KNIFE BLADE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE VACUUM ROLL AS THE VACUUM ROLL ROTATES RELATIVE TO THE FIXED KNIFE BLADE. THE WEB PULL ROLLS ARE DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER FOR ROTATION AT SUBSTANTIAL LY THE SAME PERIPHERY SPEED AND ARE SPRING LOADED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE PATCH MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN. THE WEB PULL ROLLS ARE CONNECTED TO AND DRIVEN BY A VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM. THE VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM IS IN TURN DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO A PORTION OF THE ENVELOPE MACHINE AND IS DRIVEN AT MACHINE SPEED IN FIXED RATIO WITH THE MAIN DRIVE SHAFT AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENVELOPE MACHINE. THE VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MECHANISM CONTROLS THE PERIPHERAL SPEED OF THE WEB PULL ROLLS AND THUS, CONTROLS THE LENGTH OF THE WINDOW PATCH CUT BY THE PATCH CUTTER KNIFE, BLADES. AN INCREASE IN THE SPEED OF THE WEB PULL ROLLS INCREASES THE LENGTH OF THE PATCH CUT AND CONVERSELY, A DECREASE IN THE SPEED OF THE WEB PULL ROLLS REDUCES THE LENGTH OF THE WINDOW PATCH. THE SPEED OF THE WEB PULL ROLLS CAN BE INCREASED OR DECREASED WHILE THE ENVELOPE MACHINE IS RUNNING. THE VACUUM ROLL IS DRIVEN AT MACHINE SPEED AND THE UNSEVERED END OF THE WINDOW PATCH MATERIAL SLIDES ON THE SURFACE OF THE VACUUM ROLL UNTIL A PORTION IS CUT BY THE CUTTING KNIVES.

1 3,618,483 APEARATUS FOR REGULATING WINDOW PATCH LENGTH ON ENVELOPENov. 9, 1971 H. w. HELM AND BAG MACHINERY Filed April 17, 1970 UnitedStates Patent US. Cl. 93-61 A 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Windowpatch cutting apparatus includes a pair of web pull rolls and a vacuumroll. The vacuum roll has a series of suction ports along the peripheryand a patch cutting knife blade extending radially outwardly therefrom.The patch cutting knife blade on the vacuum roll severs window patchesfrom a web when it moves into cutting relation with a fixed patchcutting knife blade positioned adjacent to the vacuum roll as the vacuumroll rotates relative to the fixed knife blade. The web pull rolls aredrivingly connected to each other for rotation at substantially the sameperiphery speed and are spring loaded to frictionally engage the patchmaterial therebetween. The web pull rolls are connected to and driven bya variable speed drive mechanism. The variable speed drive mechanism isin turn drivingly connected to a portion of the envelope machine and isdriven at machine speed in fixed ratio with the main drive shaft andother components of the envelope machine. The variable speed drivemechanism controls the peripheral speed of the web pull rolls and thus,controls the length of the window patch cut by the patch cutter knife,blades. An increase in the speed of the web pull rolls increases thelength of the patch cut and conversely, a decrease in the speed of theweb pull rolls reduces the length of the window patch. The speed of theweb pull rolls can be increased or decreased while the envelope machineis running. The vacuum roll is driven at machine speed and the unseveredend of the window patch material slides on the surface of the vacuumroll until a portion is cut by the cutting knives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to apparatus employed for making envelopes and bagsand more particularly to apparatus for regulating the length of a patchof window material for an envelope or a bag.

(2) Description of the prior art The window patch length in knownenvelope and bag making machinery is determined by the ratio of thegears or sprockets between the web pull rolls and a driven shaft thatrotates at machine speed in a fixed ratio with the main drive shaft andother components of the envelope or bag making machine. In order tochange the window patch length, it is necessary to change the gear ratiobetween the machine shaft and the web pull rolls. The change in ratiochanges the peripheral velocity of the web rolls and the relative rateat which the web of patch material is fed to the patch cutter. Theknives of the patch cutter move into cutting relation at preselectedconstant intervals determined by the speed of the vacuum roll. Bychanging the gearing to reduce the speed of the web pull rolls relativeto the envelope machine speed, the length of the patch isproportionately reduced. The converse occurs when the peripheralvelocity of the web pinch rolls is increased. U.S. Pats. 3,431,820;3,416,414; 2,986,- 976; 2,209,348 and 2,996,962 disclose apparatus forcutting envelope patch material and positioning the patch Patented Nov.9, 1971 material in overlying relation with the window of an envelopeblank.

The known method and apparatus for regulating window patch length bychanging the gears and/or sprockets between the web pull rolls and amachine shaft have several substantial disadvantages. The time requiredto change from one patch length to another is substantial becauseseveral machine components must be removed and replaced by other machinecomponents of different ratios. After installation, the components mustbe readjusted and properly timed. An inventory of a substantial numberof gears or sprockets is necessary to cover a relatively broad range ofpatch lengths that are now required for envelopes having windows ofdifferent lengths. Further, there is no assurance with the inventory ofdifferent ratio gears or sprockets that a combination is present toprovide an unconventional window length. The mechanical gear connectionis relatively inflexible and the patch length can not be varied to suitparticular gumming conditions while the machine is running. It isnecessary to stop the machine and make the time consuming sprocket orgear change. There is a need, therefore, for apparatus to quickly andeffectively change the length of the window patch severed by the patchcutter and positioned on the window of an envelope blank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hereinafter described invention relates toapparatus for severing window patches from a supply web and includes apair of web pull rolls and a rotatable patch transfer means fortransferring the severed patches. A cutting means is associated with thepatch transfer means and cuts patches from the web. The rotatable patchtransfer means is driven at a predetermined fixed selected speed and theweb pull rolls are connected to the output shaft of a variable speeddrive mechanism. The input shaft of the variable speed drive mechanismis connected to a machine shaft that rotates in a fixed ratio with theenvelope machine main drive shaft. With this arrangement, the speed ofrotation of the variable speed output shaft is controlled to therebycontrol the peripheral speed of the web pull rolls which, in turn,controls the length of the patch material secured to the web patchtransfer apparatus and severed by the patch cutter knives.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide windowpatch cutting apparatus in which the length of the patch severed fromthe web can be changed without replacement of gears, sprockets and thelike.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for changingthe length of the window patch while the machine is running.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be morecompletely disclosed and described in the following specification, theaccompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figure is a schematic view in sideelevation illustrating schematically the components of the window patchsevering apparatus and the manner in which the components are driven.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention may be employedwith apparatus similar to that illustrated in US. Pats. 2,209,348;2,996,962; 3,416,414 and 3,431,830. Detailed descriptions of patchsevering apparatus and the manner in which the apparatus is mounted inthe frame of an envelope machine is shown and described in the prior artincluding the above patents.

The present invention will be described as it relates to 3 apparatusdisclosed in the above-enumerated patents and the patents areincorporated by reference, herein.

Referring to the drawing, there is schematically illustrated, patchsevering apparatus generally designated by the numeral that includes areel 12 for a Web of win dow patch material 14. Patch transfer apparatusgenerally indicated by the numeral 16 includes a vacuum roll 18 mountedon a shaft 20. The shaft 20 is suitably supported in the envelopemachine frame (not shown). The vacuum roll 18 has a series of rows ofsuction ports 22 that open onto the roll periphery 24. The rows ofsuction ports 22 are connected to longitudinally extending vacuumpassageways 26 which are connected through suitable valve means to avacuum pump or similar device to provide a reduced pressure at thesuction ports 22 when the suction ports are in preselected angularpositions relative to the other components of the envelope machine.

The vacuum roll 18 has a longitudinally extending slotted portion 28 inwhich there is suitably mounted a knife blade 30 that forms a portion ofthe window patch severing mechanism. Positioned adjacent to the vacuumroll 18 is a second or backing knife blade 32 that is adjustably mountedin a support 34. The knife blade 32 extends longitudinally relative tothe vacuum roll 18 and is movable radially toward and away from theknife blade 30 by means of adjustment mechanism 36. With thisarrangement, the knife blades 30 and 32, when adjusted and in theposition illustrated in the drawing, are arranged to sever a windowpatch from the web of window patch material.

A shaft member 38 is schematically illustrated in the drawing anddesignates either the envelope machine main drive shaft or a shaftdrivingly connected to the envelope machine drive shaft. Forconvenience, the shaft 38 will hereinafter be referred to as theenvelope machine main drive shaft, although it should be understood thatthe shaft 38 may be a shaft of one of the other envelope machinecomponents that is in turn, directly connected to the envelope machinemain drive shaft.

The main drive shaft 38 rotates at a fixed speed so that the remainingcomponents of the envelope machine connected thereto are arranged tooperate in timed relation to each other. Thus, the printing, panelcutting, patch gumming and patch applying to the envelope is in timedrelation for the cutting, gumming and applying operations to beaccomplished while an envelope blank is properly positioned relative tothe component for cutting, gumming or applying patch material. The driveshaft 38 is connected to the vacuum roll shaft 20 by suitable shaftingand gearing. The drive connection between the drive shaft 38 and thevacuum roll shaft 20 is schematically indicated by the dash-dot line 40.With this arrangement, the vacuum roll 18 is driven by the envelopemachine main drive shaft in a fixed speed ratio relative thereto. Thespeed or peripheral velocity of the vacuum roll 18 is thus tied into theremainder of the envelope machine for timed operation therewith toposition window patches over the window panels formed in the envelopeblanks.

Positioned adjacent to the vacuum rolls are a pair of web pull rolls 42and 44. The web pull rolls 42 and 44 have peripheral surfaces 46 and 48that are in abutting relation to each other and are arranged tofrictionally engage the web of Window patch material 14 therebetween.The web pull rolls 42 and 44 are preferably geared to each other andfurther include a resilient device to urge the peripheral surfaces intoabutting relation. An idler roll 50 is positioned between the web pullrolls 42 and 44 and the web reel 12. The web of window patch material 14is threaded around the periphery of the idler roll 50 and between theWeb pull rolls 42 and 44, The unsevered end 52 of the web 14 ispositioned in overlying relation with the suction ports 22 of the vacuumroll 18.

A variable speed drive generally designated by the numeral 54 ispositioned between the main drive shaft 38 and the drive for the webpull rolls 42 and 44. The variable speed drive 54 is preferably a P.I.V.gear type variable speed drive manufactured by the Link Belt Company. Asuitable P.I.V. variable speed drive is described in Kents MechanicalEngineers Handbook, 11th Edition, Section 24, beginning on page 72.Briefly, a suitable P.I.V. variable speed gear drive includes pairs ofconical discs mounted on shafts that serve as input and output shafts.The conical discs have radial teeth formed in their conical faces andthe conical discs are arranged to move axially toward and away from eachother on their respective shafts. An endless chain is reeved between theconical discs and has portions engaging the radial slots thereon.Movement of the pairs of discs toward and away from each other changesthe speed ratio between the input and output shafts. Thus, for example,movement of the discs on the input shaft in one direction andcorresponding movement of the discs on the output shaft in the oppositedirection, will provide a change in the speed ratio of the input andoutput shafts. It should be understood that although the P.I.V. gearvariable speed drive is preferred, other types of variable speed drives,as for example, the Reeves variable speed transmission or the Grahamvariable speed transmission could also be used. It is preferred,however, that the input and output shafts of the variable speed drive bemechanically connected to each other to eliminate undesired speedvariations therebetween.

The variable speed drive 54 has an input shaft 56 and an output shaft58. A sprocket 60 is connected to the input shaft 56 and a sprocket 62is connected to the drive shaft 38. An endless chain 64 is reeved aboutthe sprockets 60 and 62 so that the input shaft 56 of the variable speeddrive 54 is driven at a fixed ratio to the machine drive shaft 38. Thus,the variable speed input shaft 56 is directly connected to the envelopemachine drive shaft 38 in a manner similar to the shaft 20 of vacuumroll 18.

The web pull roll 44 has a sprocket 64 secured thereto for rotationtherewith and the output shaft 58 of variable speed drive 54 has asprocket 66 mounted thereon, An endless chain 68 is reeved about thesprockets 64 and 66 so that the web pull rolls 42 and 44 are driven at afixed ratio to the speed of the output shaft 58. An adjusting knob 70 isprovided on the variable speed drive to increase or decrease thedifferential in speed between the input and output shafts of variablespeed drive 54.

The above patch severing apparatus 10 is arranged to sever windowpatches of variable length even while the envelope machine is runningand operates in the following manner. The web of patch material 14mounted on the reel 12 is threaded around the idler roll 50 and betweenthe web pull rolls 42 and 44. The unsevered end 52 of web 14 is inoverlying relation with the vacuum roll periphery 24 and with thesuction ports 22 in the vacuum roll 18. The web 14 is frictionallyengaged by the peripheral surfaces 46 and 48 of web pull rolls 42 and 44and is engaged by suction to the surface 24 of vacuum roll 18.

The vacuum roll 18 is driven at a fixed ratio to the drive shaft 38 andthus, rotates in timed relation with the other components of theenvelope machine and the knives 30 and 32 of the patch severingapparatus are in cutting relation to each other at predetermined fixedtime intervals. Thus, the length of the web that has passed beneath theknife blade 32 determines the length of the patch severed thereby whenthe vacuum roll 18 rotates to a position as illustrated in the drawing.The web pull rolls 42 and 44 pull the web 14 off of the reel 12 andsupply the web to the vacuum roll 18 and the patch severing knifeblades. Thus, the relative speed of the web pull rolls 42 and 44determines the length of the web 14 fed to the patch severing apparatusduring the interval of time required for the vacuum roll to cornplete arevolution and position the knives in cutting relation.

The speed of the web pull rolls 42 and 44 can be varied by changing theratio between the variable speed drive input shaft 56 and output shaft58. Since the input shaft 56 is rotating at a fixed speed, the speed ofthe output shaft 58 can be increased or decreased relative thereto.Where it is desired to increase the window patch length, the knob 70 isrotated to increase the output speed of the output shaft 58 so that thespeed of the web pull rolls 42 and 44 is proportionately increasedthrough the sprockets 60 and 62 and the endless chain 68. The increasein speed of the web pull rolls 42 and 44 supplies a greater length ofwindow patch web 14 to the vacuum roll 18 between the time intervals atwhich the web end portion is severed by the cutting knives and 32.Conversely, the length of the patch can be reduced by reducing the speedof the variable speed output shaft 58 and thus, the web pull rolls 42and 44 so that a shorter length of web 14 is supplied to the surface ofvacuum roll 18 during the time required for a revolution of the vacuumroll 18 and the severing of the window patch from the web.

With the above arrangement, it will be apparent that the patch lengthadjustment can be made by merely turning a calibrated dial and anydesired patch length can thus be programmed, either manually orautomatically, into the machine within a very short time. One of thesubstantial advantages of the above described window patch severingapparatus is the fine adjustment of the patch length that can be madewhile the machine is in operation for carefully controlled edge gummingof the window patch.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle,preferred construction and mode of operation of the invention have beenillustrated and described. However, it should be understood that, withinthe scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length from a web of patch material while the envelope machineis running comprismg:

a rotatable patch transfer means operable to engage and transfer awindow patch severed from a web of window patch material,

cutting means operable to sever lengths of window patch material fromsaid web,

means to actuate said cutting means at preselected fixed time intervals,

a pair of web pull rolls positioned in abutting relation with each otherand operable to feed the web of window patch material to said cuttingmeans and said patch transfer means,

a variable drive mechanism having an input shaft and an output shaft,

said input shaft drivingly connected to said envelope machine driveshaft so that said input shaft is driven at a fixed ratio relative tosaid envelope machine drive shaft,

said output shaft drivingly connected to said pair of web pull rolls sothat said web pull rolls are driven at a fixed ratio to the speed ofsaid output shaft, and

said variable speed drive mechanism operable to change the speed of saidoutput shaft while said input shaft speed remains substantially constantto thereby change the length of said patch material fed to said cuttingmeans between actuations of said cutting means to thereby change thelength of the patch severed from said web of window patch material.

2. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 1 in which said rotatable patchtransfer means includes a vacuum roll having a plurality of suctionports on the periphery thereof, said vacuum roll arranged to engage thesevered window patches and transfer said window patches.

3. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 2 in which said cutting meansincludes a first knife blade secured to said vacuum roll and terminatingadjacent the periphery thereof and a second knife blade positioned inparallel overlying relation to said vacuum roll, said knife bladesoperable to sever patch material positioned therebetween.

4. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 2 which includes means drivinglyconnecting said vacuum roll to said envelope making machine drive shaftso that said vacuum roll is driven at a fixed ratio relative to saidenvelope machine drive shaft.

5. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 4 in which said vacuum roll isarranged to rotate relative to the end portion of said unsevered web ofwindow patch material positioned thereon so that said unsevered endportion of said web slides on said vacuum roll until said cutting meanssevers a length of said window patch material from said web.

6. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing Window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 1 in which said web pull rolls areconnected to each other for timed rotation relative to each other.

7. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severing window patches ofvariable length as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

means to rotatably mount said web of window patch material adjacent tosaid web pull rolls. 8. Apparatus in an envelope machine for severingwindow patches of variable length as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes:

a sprocket on said variable speed drive input shaft, a sprocket on ashaft drivingly connected to said main drive shaft, r f 1 an endlesschain reeved about said sprockets and arranged to rotate said inputshaft at a fixed ratio with said main drive shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,833,011 11/1931 Aldrich 53-3893,276,183 10/1966 Carlisle 93-34 X 3,294,301 12/1966 Richter 93-34 X3,400,641 9/1968 Stemmler 93-61 A 3,408,908 11/1968 Berkowitz 93-61 A3,412,655 11/1968 Kranz 93-61 A 3,431,830 3/1969 Stovall 93-61 A3,435,739 4/1969 Neunkirchen. 93-61 A 3,438,310 4/1969 Woodruif 93-1 G3,468,227 9/1969 Volks 93-61 A 3,490,196 1/ 1970 Sorensen 53-389 X WAYNEA. MORSE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

53-389; 93-1 G, 35 M W, 58.4

